Walter Murray (the first president of the university) once joked that the coat of arms for the University of Saskatchewan should include, 'a shook of wheat surmounted by a prairie chicken and supported by two gophers rampant with the motto: "Stick to the Soil -- Regina Gumbo -- and it will Stick to You."' It is a shame that he did not take his joke seriously. He would have provided a symbol -- gophers rampant -- that would shock people into an awareness of the unique nature of the university.

Historian Michael Hayden suggests that the 75th anniversary of the University of Saskatchewan is not only an appropriate but also a necessary time to write its history -- to record the development of a unique institution before its uniqueness disappears completely without anyone appreciating what it is. In focussing on this theme, Hayden offers an absorbing history of the university which conveys a strong sense of the personalities, issues, and events which shaped its distinctive character.

Seeking a Balance makes an important, and colourful, contribution to regional history and to the history of education in Canada. In addressing issues of concern to many North American university communities, it also makes a significant statement about the current crisis in higher education.